Women's rights in Myanmar
[1] Currently, a variety of organizations--both domestic and international--strive to educate people that this is a misconception to better make strides towards protecting women's rights in Myanmar.
[2] Additionally, women belonging to ethnic minority groups face added discrimination and barriers to access, particularly those who are not Buddhist.
[5] The current lack of measures to achieve gender equality in both domestic legislation and the Constitution is of concern to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women.
[9] However, women received the most support overall from Myanmar's political parties, particularly in areas such as campaign financing and voter outreach.
Leading causes of maternal death according to the government’s 2006-2011 National Health Plan are postpartum hemorrhage, eclampsia, and complications from unsafe abortions.
Moreover, most women who reported incidents of sexual violence entered into marriage under conditions of social or economic vulnerability.
[4] Usually Burmese women have the freedom to choose their own husband, despite the continued presence of matchmaking traditions and parental say in the decision that occasionally still occur.
In the event of divorce the assets are divided equally unless the women is dependent on her husband, in which case she receives only one-third of the previously joint property.
Additionally trafficking of women, especially in the border regions of Myanmar, as well as domestic violence and forced sex in marriage are ongoing problems.
There are few opportunities for paid labor in rural areas, especially with the common occurrence of displacement that causes people to constantly be moving.
As a result, women farmers must meet the needs of their families’ in addition to the demands of the Burmese army for rations, taxes, and labor.
Moreover, the lack of access to healthcare, widespread malnutrition, and endemic diseases have resulted in high maternal mortality rates in the rural areas, causing an estimated 580 deaths per 100,000 women.
A 1998 International Labour Organization (ILO) Commission of Inquiry reported that forced labor is most commonly seen in ethnic minority areas.
Ethnic women most commonly reside in Myanmar's border areas that are most prone to civil wars and conflict.
Additionally coerced marriages between ethnic women and soldiers are common in attempting to promote the government’s “Burmanization” program.
[13] Myanmar has multiple institutional mechanisms currently in place that serve to implement the country’s commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association, established in 1991, promotes the health and well-being of mothers and children with a main focus on remote villages with a lack of access to healthcare.
It strives to promote equal opportunities for women and children in regards to their livelihoods development, education, health, emergencies and decision making.
The Foundation’s vision is to “promote happy and peaceful lives in a secure socio-economic environment for all women and children in Myanmar”.
The Foundation has the goal of being seen by the international community as a non-government organization carrying out nationwide development projects for women and children.
